 |
|
|
| Registration of Change in Address, etc. in Real Estate Registry Made Mandatory in Japan beginning April 1, 2026 |
| In 2024, a new rule on Sozoku Toki went into effect that requires an heir to register for a transfer of title by succession from the deceased owner to the heir upon the heir’s inheritance/succession of a real estate. From April 1, 2026, a new rule will be enforced in Japan that requires the owner of a real estate to register any change in address of the owner, as well as in the owner’s name or company name, etc. This new rule, that will be enforced after the rule on Sozoku Toki came into effect in 2024, further enhances Japan’s effort to clarify title in real estate.
|
| |
| Main Points to Know About the New Rule |
The following include main points to know about this new rule:
- A change in address or name, etc. must be registered within 2 (“two”) years of such change;
- Failure to register the change without a legitimate reason can result in a fine/penalty of less than 50,000 JPY (no fine/penalty had been levied in previous years prior to enforcement of the new rule);
- The new rule will also apply to any change in address, etc. prior to enforcement of the aforementioned rule (i.e. change that occurred before March 31, 2026). However, a grace period of 2 (“two”) years shall be granted, whereby a change in address, etc. can be registered within 2 (“two”) years after the new rule comes into effect (i.e. until March 31, 2028) without being levied a fine/penalty mentioned above;
- In order to register for a change of address, etc., the owner of real estate will need to submit a Certificate of Residence and Registration Application, etc. A 1,000 JPY fee will need to be paid per real estate for Registration Tax.
- When reporting a change of address, etc. pursuant to this new rule, the owner of real estate should also check to see that he/she has also met the requirements of Sozoku Toki, in the event the owner had inherited any real estate from a deceased family member.
|
| |
| Conclusion |
| As rules relating to real estate are subject to change, and an owner can be subjected to a fine/penalty if he/she fails to comply with the new rules, it is good to take note of any changes in rules relating to real estate that might affect you as an owner of any real estate/land in Japan. |
| |
|
| |
|
| I started a podcast for the Hongo Law Office, LLLC! |
|
|
|
I started a podcast for the Hongo Law Office, LLLC!
While I will mainly discuss estate planning/administration issues by myself each month, I also welcome guests on my podcast. I am now inviting anyone to be on my show. Please email me at yuka.hongo12@gmail.com if any of you might be interested in appearing as a guest on my show!
In this 13th episode, I spoke to Mr. Takashi Nakayama, President and Principal Broker of the Kujira Club in Honolulu that handles the resale of Timeshares, and etc. Timeshare is an interesting kind of property that makes it possible for you to own an affordable piece of paradise for a short time each year. As Timeshares are also subject to probate, we discussed how to set up the ownership title of your Timeshare property that would help avoid the long probate process. Please also listen to hear about Mr. Nakayama's interesting hobby.
Episode Link |
|
|
|
| |
|
| Client Comments |
| "Lawyers in the U.S. can be difficult to talk to at times, but I think people find it easy to talk to Ms. Hongo. I also like the fact that Ms. Hongo follows up with her clients on a timely basis." |
| Sachiko Trillo, Honolulu |
|
|
| "Hongo Tsuji Tax & Consulting, our accounting firm, introduced me to Ms. Hongo. I consulted her with regards to estate planning, and I appreciated the fact that she took care of our documents in a timely manner." |
| K.A., Tokyo |
|
|
| |
|
| "I appreciated Ms. Hongo's professional expertise and the kind way in which she took care of our matter. I am truly happy that she helped us." |
| Mitsuko Seto, Osaka |
|
|
| "Ms. Hongo not only prepared my trust, but also took care of legal matters involving my company. Her fee is reasonable and she follows up with you in a timely manner." |
| S. Suzuki, Company Owner |
|
|
| |
|
| "Ms. Hongo took care of our matter in a kind manner. We liked the fact that her office was located in Waikiki, near our home." |
| Sugiyama, Waikiki |
|
|
| "I became a successor to 2 condominiums that my wife owned in Hawaii, after my wife passed away. Ms. Hongo took care of our probate matter in a short timeframe of 1 year. We feel very grateful to her." |
| Shuichi Sakamoto, Nasu |
|
|
| |
|
| "Our clients were very satisfied with Ms. Hongo's service because she was able to explain matters such as probate in an easy-to-understand manner. Ms. Hongo is someone we can rely on for any matter." |
| Noboru Ohhashi, List Sotheby's, Tokyo |
|
|
| "Given that the U.S. real estate recording process and its pertaining laws differ from those of Japan, and it is difficult to learn about them in English, I appreciated Ms. Hongo being able to explain them to me in an understandable manner. I would like to seek her help in the future for other matters." |
| K. Iwasaki, Honolulu |
|
|
| |
|
| "Ms. Hongo helped me with the estate planning for my real estate in Hawaii. I was glad she was able to help me during her visit in Japan." |
| S.T., Kawasaki |
|
|
| "It was our long-term goal to prepare a trust for our family. We are now able to take the next step in our lives, as Ms. Hongo applied her proficient bilingual skills to efficiently take care of our matter. We are very grateful for what she did for us." |
| A.P., Honolulu |
|
|
| |
|
| |
| Attorney Yuka Hongo has been included as an honored listee in Marquis Who's Who for 2024. Marquis has chronicled the lives of accomplished individuals and innovators since 1898. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
| Hongo Law Office LLLC is proud to have been acknowledged as one of the "Best Probate Attorneys in Honolulu for 2026" by Expertise.com. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
| Attorney Yuka Hongo has been named a 2026 Elite Lawyer in the area of Estate Planning in Hawaii. The award recognizes attorneys who have displayed a high level of competence in their practice. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| You're invited to call or email |
"If you have questions about estate planning and administration, please don't hesitate to call. I'll be glad to hear from you." – Yuka
Call (808) 237-9944 or email yuka.hongo12@gmail.com |
|
|
|
|
|
| Meet Yuka Hongo, Esq. |
| Yuka Hongo is a respected estate planning attorney based in Honolulu, Hawaii. She has practiced law for 10 years and is fluent in both English and Japanese. |
|
|
| |
|
Practice Areas: Yuka represents clients in matters related to estate planning such as the preparation of Trusts, Wills, and the Transfer on Death Deed. She also provides services in the area of estate administration, including probate.
Education: In 2000, Yuka graduated from Oberlin College (Oberlin, OH), where she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics and East Asian Studies. In 2004, she graduated from Loyola Law School (Los Angeles, CA), where she earned her Juris Doctor Degree. In 2022, Yuka graduated from Keio University (Tokyo, Japan) where she earned a Master of Laws Degree.
Court Admissions and Bar Memberships: Yuka is a member of the Hawaii, California, New York, Washington, and the District of Columbia Bar Associations. Yuka is a member of the Advisory Committee for the Hawaii Tax Institute Program.
Additional Qualifications: Yuka is a Certifying Acceptance Agent who can obtain the ITIN tax number for foreigners in the U.S. In addition, she is a Life Insurance Agent and a licensed Notary Public in the State of Hawaii. Also, Yuka is fully bilingual in Japanese and English and has in-depth legal work experience working with both languages.
Multicultural Background: Yuka has experience living and working in both the U.S. and Japan and has a thorough understanding of both cultures in these two countries. In addition, she loves working with people from other multicultural backgrounds and working on international matters.
Educational Presentations: Yuka has presented seminars in Japan and in the U.S. relating to various estate planning/estate administration issues.
Residence & Interests: Yuka lives in Honolulu, Hawaii and is single. She enjoys scoping out new eateries and restaurants. |
| |
| Add a friend to our list |
If you have a friend or colleague who would like to receive this newsletter, please give us the person's name and email address and we'll add them to our distribution list. Thanks.
You can also connect with Yuka on LinkedIn, X and YouTube. |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
